Marvelous Meat Pies

What image do you conjure up when you hear the word pie? Something with fruit – maybe apple, blueberry, cherry or key lime?

As much as we adore those, the most important pies in the annals of gastronomy are not the ones served for dessert, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. No, the serious pies, the ones that go all the way back to when the pie was invented, are not sweet treats at all, but savory ones.

That’s right, we’re talking about the historic, beloved meat pie. From pasties in the U.K., sfeeha in the Middle East, Natchitoches meat pies in Louisiana, samosas in India or empanadas in Latin America, humankind has been swathing meat in pastry all over the world.

Looking for a way to make your life more savory with a delicious meat pie?

Here are a few of our favorites, with links to the full recipe:

Deer, Beer and Bacon Buns

Tender venison, smoky bacon, and a beer-enriched sauce make a tasty filling for buttery baked buns. We liken them to our version of steak & ale pie, only totally portable and perfect for a tailgate or party.

Wagyu Beef Shepherd’s Pie

Wild Boar, Apple, and Cheddar Hand Pies

These flaky pocket pastries are filled with savory wild boar sausage, sautéed apple, and cheddar cheese. They’re easy-as-pie to make (pun intended) and great for a party or hearty snack.

Dingle Pies

This recipe is from Colman Andrews’ excellent cookbook, The Country Cooking of Ireland. These savory, rustic hand-pies are a staple at Ireland’s oldest festival, Puck Fair, for their convenience. But they will do quite nicely anywhere finger food is wanted.

Are you a meat pie aficionado? Tell us your favorite type of meat pie in the comments, or find us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter – tag @dartagnanfoods to get the conversation going. And if you make one of these meat pie recipes, be sure to share photos with us!